lazy jacks

[rick retiree]

have had my newly purchased 2001 X out on Lake Michigan but am just learning to sail. As I singlehand find its a real challenge to haul the mainsail down and strap it up (or whatever the proper nomenclature is). I understand there is a lazy jack system that solves this problem. Would You recommend this,can i install myself and where is good source to purchase one? Also would really appreciate an am?fm radio with speakers in the cockpit. where does ant. go?. Currently have handheld VHF so radio can go anywhere. Neophyte question> Is their a a combination am/fm/vhf radio (with possibly a remote control?) available? Thanks guys, right now the Lake is calling, 85 degrees and 15 mile offshore breezes and not a cloud in the sky.

[richandlori]

Rick,
When I was a neophyte (ok I still am) I also had a tough time in getting the sail down and tied to the mast while on the boat alone, or with my kids which is worse than being alone. I have found that once I got a better feel for the boat and boat tasks, it isn't any big deal anymore. So I would recommend getting some additional experience before making decisions on buying additional equipment. You may later find out that you could have gotten by without something that early on seemed like a must have. A Lazy Jack system is available for the Mac and I think it runs a few hundred bucks.

I have never seen a VHF/AM/FM radio combo unit, but I guess they might exist. You can go many ways to get tunes out on the water. Portable cd/CDR/MP3/AM/FM players or a built in unit with built in speakers, simular to car units. I am close to getting one from Walmart for about $100 bucks that is XM radio campatable, and then getting some external marine speakers to mount on each side of the championway hatch. It is all a mater of how much $ you want to spend and if you want something permantly mounted in your boat. You could run the antenna up the mast, but why, when you can get good reception by just placing it somewhere in the boat.

Here are some of the search results found when using the search function, typing in Lazy Jacks, and clicking on the button that requires both words to appear in the search results:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... lazy+jacks

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... lazy+jacks

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... lazy+jacks

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... lazy+jacks

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... lazy+jacks


After reading through these, I think you will have a damn good feel for the whole Lazy Jack system along with the positives and negatives of such systems.

Enjoy.

Rich

[Mark Prouty]

I am on the verge of getting a Sail Caddy. Let us know which system you decide on.

[richandlori]

I have to admit, for only $100, the sail caddy sure look cool, easy to use, and a pretty good deal.

Rich

[Moe]

Before considering these alternatives, try hoisting and lowering the mainsail while hoave to on a starboard tack. The main halyard is on the starboard side and that's where your weight will be, so you want it on the windward side. It'll also give you priority over boats on a port tack. The backwinded jib will partially shadow the mainsail.

[Jack O'Brien]

Inexpensive car radios with wireless remote are available. I once bought one at K-Mart. VHF fixed mount radios are available with wired or wireless remotes. Signal splitters allowing one antenna to serve AM/FM and VHF are available - West Marine has them. The aft side of the galley is a lousy place for the AM/FM/CD radio as it is inconvenient to use and blocked by the square cooler you will put there.

[Sloop John B]

Lazy jacks or sail caddy? I rig each time so I went with the sail caddy. I think the battens get caught up in the jacks.

Anyway, the caddy helps to keep the main from flopping out over the side into the drink. From the cabin (standing on aft dinnete seat with hatch slid open) one can bunch up the main and sail tie/bungy it to the boom.

This is handy when you finally admit to being overpowered, and with the main halyard led aft, one can avoid that rollicking walk up to the mast.

With the radios, keep them seperate. If one phase craps out, you don't want to have to replace the whole shibang.

[Carl Noble]

After using the Sail Caddy system for two seasons now I am very impressed with it. The mainsail drops completely into it about 90 percent of the time. The other 10 percent it mostly drops in with some of the top hanging over. As SJB said it is very easy to stand on the dinette seat and the companionway ladder and manage the rest of the sail. Then a few bungee straps around the sail and boom and you can forget about until your at the trailer or dock.

[RandyMoon]

Question - I want to install a single line reefing system down one side of the boom. Does the SailCaddy install in a way that would still allow clearance for a reefing system?

[Sloop John B]

Single line reefing with sail caddy? I don't know. But I would have to assume there's plenty of interference in the way of such. Perhaps the systems are redundant.

[davidpage]

I have the single line reef system and a Sail Caddy and it did get in the way.

But it's not a real problem. I've run into more problems having to hand bomb the reef line along the boom as I haul on the reef line with my other hand.

Always happens if I wait until I 'have to reef' instead of anticipating and reefing before I have to. With two hands for the boat there's no hand for the sailor. Always a bad situation.

I love my Sail Caddy!

David
Sailing the Sea Jay on Buffalo Lake AB